Congratulations to Dr. Susan Bernardo and her fellow contributors to “Approaches to Teaching the Works of Octavia E. Butler,” winner of the 2021 Teaching Literature Book Award.
An international prize recognizing the best book on teaching college-level literature, this biennial award is given by the graduate faculty in English at Idaho State University.
In honoring this volume on the work of speculative fiction writer Octavia L. Butler, the committee noted its “timely and effective approach.” Jessica Winston, ISU professor of English and chair of the award committee, also stated that the volume’s “chapters apply to the teaching of other authors of speculative fiction, especially writers of color and women.” The collection also garnered praise from the committee for its “grounded essays that are short enough for teachers to read and digest as they prepare their own lesson plans.”
The book is edited by Tarshia L. Stanley, Dean of Humanities, Arts, and Sciences, and Professor of English, at St. Catherine University (St. Paul, Minnesota).
Dr. Susan Bernardo, English Professor Emeritus, authored the essay “Ecocritical Ideas and Butler’s “Bloodchild” and Parable of the Sower,” featured in the volume.